Bandon residents are mourning the news of the death of a well-loved police officer known affectionately as "Sergeant Carl."

Carl Lewis Nayaert, 35, died Friday, April 25, after a short bout with a rare form of cancer that had spread throughout his body and brain. Nayaert spent his last days with his family, who had gathered at his Bandon home.

The Bandon city hall flag has been flying at half-mast since Friday and several bouquets of flowers and ribbons had been placed around the bottom of the pole in Nayaert's honor.

A native of Stanley, N.Y., Nayaert moved to Bandon in 1990 to join the police department, following his discharge as a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, where he had served as a military police officer and K-9 handler. He met his wife, Kristen, then also a member of the Air Force, while both were enlisted.

He served less than three years as a patrol officer in Bandon before being promoted to sergeant in 1993. As sergeant, he was second in command, serving as the assistant chief of the police department. In 1992, then-chief Rick Lewis picked Nayaert to set up, fund and run Bandon's first Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.

For the next several years, in addition to patrol and supervision responsibilities, Nayaert was the department's DARE officer, and he got to know virtually every one of the town's children, who called him "Sgt. Carl" or "Carl the Cop."

Lewis called Nayaert's organization and direction of DARE "exemplary," and for that and other achievements named him Officer of the Year. It was one of a string of honors that punctuated his career.

During his career, Nayaert earned two Medals of Valor, another Officer of the Year award, a Distinguished Service Medal and a Lifesaving Medal, among other honors.

Although Nayaert's death had been expected, the news still hit hard members of the Bandon Police Department.

"We are just devastated at the loss of this remarkable man, valiant comrade and beloved friend," Bandon Police Chief Bob McBride said.

"Carl Nayaert was the poster boy for community policing," McBride added. "He was courageous, relentless in locking up dangerous people and at the same time, he treated everyone - even those he arrested - with courtesy and respect. His whole goal was to solve community problems rather than simply make arrests."

Away from work, Nayaert enjoyed softball, basketball and golf, and coaching young people's sports. He was a hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed taking his family on camping vacations.

Nayaert was diagnosed earlier this year with an inoperable form of cancer in his body and brain. His body could not tolerate chemotherapy, but he underwent daily radiation treatments to control his pain.

Word of his illness spread quickly through the community and soon a fund was set up at the Bandon branch of Bank of America, to provide Nayaert and his wife and daughters a first-class vacation to Disneyland. It was to have been a happy time that would live always in his girls' memories. He never got to make the trip.

Just by word of mouth, Bandon residents heard of the fund and responded with generous gifts and today the fund has more than $9,000. Additional contributions are welcome. The money will be used for the benefit of Nayaert's wife and daughters.

Complete obituary information can be found below.